The state of Rhode Island announced last week it would be distributing 500,000 at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to municipalities and community organizations.
A total of 350,000 at-home tests will be distributed by cities and towns, divided based on the population size of the community. In Newport County, Newport received 8,138 tests, Middletown received 5,400 tests and Portsmouth received 5,225 tests.
Tiverton officials did not respond to requests for information regarding test distribution.
A total of 150,000 tests will be distributed by roughly 30 community organizations in areas of Rhode Island where some people may otherwise not have the means to purchase tests.
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Newport
Tom Shevlin, the public information officer in Newport, said the city will be assessing the immediate needs of its community partners and begin distributing test kits in accordance with state guidelines.
“As a first step, we plan on providing kits directly to the Newport School Department as well as the Newport Housing Authority and The Edward King House Senior Center, where free walk-in testing is available throughout the week,” he said. “From there, we’ll go wherever the need is until we’ve exhausted our supply.”
Shevlin said those who don’t receive an at-home test can get tested at the free walk-in clinic at the Edward King House Senior Center on weekdays. Those wishing to go to the walk-in clinic can register at portal.ri.gov.
Portsmouth
In Portsmouth, Emergency Management Director Ray Perry said the town will be following distribution guidelines outlined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“We will not get them all at once, as distribution will be spread out over several weeks,” he said. “Each new batch we receive will include a new set of guidance. We’re still collecting data on the population of the below categories to determine how many to deliver to each location.”
Eligible recipients for this distribution include schools, health equity zones, group homes, state-run nursing homes, non-congregate shelters, testing sites and medical facilities.
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Community members, Perry said, can also order their own free kits that will be mailed to them.
“It is important that users of the kits follow the instructions provided with each test kit very closely,” he said. “Instructions change with the different brands being distributed, and a false reading may occur if the instructions for administering and reading the tests are not followed exactly.”
Middletown
Middletown Fire Chief James Peplau said he is working with Town Administrator Shawn Brown, to determine test distribution.
“We are navigating the restrictions to identify and support eligible recipients in a timely manner,” he said. “Each must receive an informational flyer with their tests. The governor’s press release and some RIDOH guidance is free of the restrictions that RIEMA has communicated.”
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Peplau said public schools will be receiving what they need for the balance of the school year.
“All Saints STEAM Academy is under consideration as is the Twice As Nice Daycare at the (YMCA). The Maher Center and Looking Upwards may be eligible,” he said. “I will clarify if the senior center, veterans groups and other outreach partners can participate.”
Additional at-risk communities also have been identified by the town to receive tests, including several health-care facilities that are either private or non-profit, or have been receiving test materials through other channels.
Bethany Brunelle-Raja can be reached at [email protected] 575-644-1223 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter, Insta: bethanyfreudenthal, TikTok: becomingmrsraja, Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/bethany-freudenthal
